Apparatus for making cast articles.



W. H. FORD.

APPARATUS FOB. MAKING GAST ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1910.

. THE NORRIS PETERS Co. PHOTO LITHOH WASHING ION, D. c,

W. H. FORD.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAST ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1910.

1,119,418. V Patented Dec. 1, 191 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LlTHO-, WASHINGPON. D, C

. UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE."

WILLIAM H. FORD, 0F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO FRANKHANCHETT, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAST ARTICLES.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, IVILLIAM H. Fom), acitizen of the United States, and resident of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inApparatus for Making Cast Articles, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an apparatus for forming cast articles frommolten metal,either circular or flat, and includes means for stacking a plurality ofindividual molds in such manner that a series of articles, either alikeor different, can be. cast in said series of molds, all at one pouring.I

The constructionaldetails and various advantages of my invention will bepointed out more at length in the course of the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I haveshown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view partly in side elevation, brokenaway, and mainly in vertical section, showing a portion of the moldshaping and forming mechanism; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview of the upper portion of said mechanism; Fig. 3 is a similarenlarged sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 when used formaking the complemental portion of the mold to cooperate with theportion shown as being made in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionalView on the line 1-4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the upper endof the molding apparatus; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are top plan views showingrespectively the mold pattern, and the two receiving blocks forsupporting said mold pattern; Fig. 9 is a view partly in side elevationbroken away, and partly in section, of the holder and pouring apparatus,showing a series of individual molds stacked in position to be pouredtogether; Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 1010, Fig.9; Figs. 11 and 12 are top and bottom views of one half of the mold, andFig. 13 is a plan view of the other half of the mold; Fig. 14 is acentral vertical sectional view of the upper end of the moldingapparatus provided with means for molding a pattern which cannot bedrawn perpendicularly because of undercut parts, said section beingtaken on the line Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed March 19, 1910. Serial No. 550,425.

l b-14, Fig. 15; Fig. 15 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line1515, Fig. 1 1; Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the mold patternemployedin the oblique arrangement of Figs. 14!; and 15; Fig. 17 is a slightlyperspective view in side elevation of the cope or covering-used with themolded portion of the pattern made by the mechanism of Figs. 1%l-16;Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view through several of the individualmolds shown in the series piled up in Fig. 9, said figure exhibiting themetal in said molds after it has been poured; Fig. 19 is a view in sideelevation of the casting produced by my apparatus, after the molds havebeen broken away therefrom; and Figs. 20 and 21 are plan views of moldsshowing flat molding, said views being present in order to show theadaptability of my invention to ia wide range of casting, either flat orcircuar. a.

For the purpose of carryingout many of the features of my invention, Iprefer to make the molds circular, although it will be understood thatthis is merely a preferred form as relates to other features.

Referring to Figs. 11-13, and 18, where one form of the mold is shown,it will be seen that each mold is composed of two blocks or =pieces 1, 2of molded sand or other suitable material, shown herein as circular inperipheral outline and containing the complemental portions 3, 4 of theshape which is to receive the metal for making the required castarticle, whatever the said article may be, a plain ring being hereinshown for convenience of illustration. At one side I provide a verticalhole or gate 5 for receiving the molten metal, and a feed gate 6connecting therefrom to the mold cavity 3 or 4 as the case may be. Avent hole 7 is provided in the top member 2, leading to one or morelateral vent. passages 8 on the outer side of the mold for permittingthe gases to escape from each mold cavity independently of the rest whenthe metal is entering the same. At someperipheral point of the mold,herein shown as opposite the gate 5, I provide a. suitable aliningdevice or means, herein shown as a notch 9, and at the center of eachmold I provide centering means cooperating With said alining means forinsuring that the two portions 3 and 4 of the mold cavity shallinvariably be brought into absolutely correct alinement automaticallysimply by putting the parts together in the only way in which they canbe put together. Said centering means, as herein shown in the preferredembodiment of my invention, consists of a conical depression 10 formedin the center of the upper part 2 and the conical projection 11 formedat the center of the other part 1, said projection or male part 11fitting accurately the depression or female part 10 when the parts areassembled as shown in Fig. 18. Referring now to the means for makingthis mold, Figs. 1-8, I provide a column 12 extending upwardly from abase 13 and having a flat shoulder 14: near' its top about a centralpost 15 extending therefrom. Surrounding this post is a shell or tubularframe 16 which normally forms a box or receptacle for the rest of themolding mechanism for the molding sand or other material. In this tube Iplace a re-- movable receiving block 17 having a central opening 18,Fig. 7, corresponding to the size of the post 15 for positioning theblock 17, and an offset recess 19 to receive a part to be presentlydescribed. At some point in its periphery, I provide one portion of analining means, herein shown as a notch 20, to fit against a rib orvertical projection 21 on the inside of the tube 16. Thus when the block17 is dropped into the tube on the post 15 of the column 12, it willalways come in the same position and also will rotate with the tube whendesired, as will presently be explained. The pattern 22 to cooperatewith the parts thus far described is provided with a similar notch tofit the rib or projection 21 in order that it may be accurately alinedwith the block 17 and also may rotate with the tube or frame 16 whendesired. This pattern consists of a horizontal plate, preferably ofmetal, having on its upper side in relief the portion 21 of the patternwhich is to provide the required metal-receiving recess in the mold, thesame, as herein shown, consisting of one half of the ring which is to becast. At one side this pattern 22 is provided with a tubular post 25 andbranch connection 26 for forming respectively the hole 5 and branch 6 inthe parts 1 and 2 of the mold. At its center, the pattern plate isprovided with a conical projection 27 removably mounted in a preferablyconical seat or hole 28 formed in thepattern plate, said part 27 havingat its under side a threaded stem 29 to receive a clamping nut 30 bymeans of which it is clamped in place whenever the mold is to receivethe female part or depression 10. A slender rod 31 is mounted in thepattern at a suitable place to form the vent hole 7 of the mold whenrequired, and in order that this vent hole may be formed only in onepart,

preferably the part 2 o'f'the mold, I provide means for the partialwithdrawal of this put in place as shown in Fig.1, and the sand or othermold making material is driven hard into the opening or exposed top ofthe frame 16 and then shaved off flush therewith as indicated at 34:,Figs. 1 and 2., To'remove or eject the mold piece thus made, I provide,as a convenient way of accomplishing this result, means for permittingthis surrounding frame or tube 16 to be forcibly slid downward on thecolumn 12, said means being herein shownas comprising projections 35extending from column 12 ,and cooperating with projections 36 on nut 39,and openings 37, 38,, the projections 35, 36 serving to hold the tube upduring the mold making operation and then simply by rotatingthe tubularframe 16 a short distance, the projection 35 drops into the notch 38 andthe projection 36 into a notch 37, there being preferably a series ofthese notches and projections around the periphery of the cooperatingparts. Preferably instead of having the projections and notches 36, 38stationary with the base 13, I provide them on an adjustable nut 39preferably having threaded engagement with the column at 40, a lock nut4C1 serving to lock the nut 39 accurately at whatever height it isadjusted. This provision enables me to make the molds of any thicknessdesired as may be required according to any given work which it isdesired to mold and then cast. Having made the part 2 of the mold asdescribed, and stripped or ejected the same from the apparatus, in orderto make the part 1 of the mold, I remove the block 17 and pattern 22-while the tube is still down, and put in place a block 42, and on top ofit the pattern, slightly changed. This block has an alining notch 43corresponding to the notch 20 of the other block, anda depression 1 1 inits top side to receive the depending portion of the vent-making member31 of the pattern, and an opening in its under side to fit over the post15 of the column, but has a smooth top surface otherwise, including acentral closed head 45. Having put this block 42 in place, I remove theprojection 27 from the pattern by unscrewing the nut 30 therefrom, andalso draw down the vent pin 31, so that it cannot project thereafterinto the sand, and then place this revised pattern on top of the block42, the

parts then being as shown in Fig. 3. Thereupon the tubular frame 16 israised, its projection or rib 21 engaging the notches 43 and 23, andthen the sand or other moldmakingmaterial is packed into place as bemold is thus made.

The .aboveprocess isrepeated until the desired number of individualmolds are made, whereupon said molds are stacked in a holder 16, Figs.9, 10. This holder comprises a base 17 to which is secured a pref erablysemi-circular shell-like upright 48 on which is mounted a clamping rest49 held in desired vertical adjustment by a thumb screw50engagingclamping ears 51 The rest 49may consist of a cylindrical blockas shown, which may be gripped in different positions of verticaladjustment by the clamping device shown, so as to leave the desiredspace thereabove for the molds. Tightening means, herein shown as athumb screw 52 operating in a yoke 53 against the shell upright 48serves to tighten a clamp or holding plate 54 against the included moldsso that they cannot possibly shift their position. Preferably along oneedge of the upright 48, I provide a series of numbers to set the moldrest with reference to, so that thereby the number of molds which may bestacked above a given point may be readily known. Having adjusted therest 49 to a given number, a corresponding number of complete molds arestacked one upon another and placed on the rest 49 against the upri ht48. T hereupon the clamping member 04 is slid down over the top of thecolumn of molds, and the latter are held down by the finger or hand hardagainst the rest 49 while the clamp is tightened by turning the thumbnut 52 until the clamping member 5 1 is tightened firmly against themolds so that they cannot move. The upright 48 is provided on its innerside with a rib or projection 55 corresponding exactly to the rib orprojection 21, so that when the molds are put in place therein, theirnotches 9 are necessarily brought into accurate alinement with eachother because of their engagement with this projection or rib 55, and

inasmuch as the cooperating male and female parts 10 and 11 of each moldcenter the individual parts of each mold and the semi-circular form ofthe upright 48 and of the clamping member 54 brings all the molds intovertical alinement above each other, it follows that the gate openings 5of all the molds are in accurate vertical alinement throughout theentire series. A receiving cup 56 provided preferably with a charcoal orother'suitable heat-resisting lining 57 having a receiving pouringopening 58 is then placed in proper position on top of the alined molds,and the metal is poured. The result is that it flows down into each andall of the molds, filling at the bottom first and thence upward in thesuccessive molds toward the top until they are all full, the gasesescaping from each individual mold independently of all the rest and yetall the molds being poured at one time. The resulting casting is shownin Fig.

19,where it will be seen that all the rings 59 are connected by anintegral sprue 60.

Instead of forming merely one ring in each mold, it will be understoodthat practically any kind of a pattern may be made according sto myinvention, Fig. 21 showing a mold provided with cavities for making aseries of rings (31, all leading to a central pouring opening (32bybranch feeds 63. In Fig. 20 I have also shown a central p0ur ingopening (32, but an entirely dill'erent kind of a figure G l molded intothe mold ofthe kind known as a flat pattern. Some patterns have inclinedprojections, so that they cannot be drawn by a movement perpendicular tothe general plane of thepattern, and accordingly in Figs. 14-17, I haveshown the modilication of my previously described construction which isnecessary in order to make a mold which will draw from undercut parts. Ablock (35 is provided which corresponds in general function to theblocks 17 and 4-2, this block having its top surface (36 oblique to thevertical direction of the inclosing frame or tube 16. A pattern plate 67is properly shaped to rest on this surface 66, having depending portions(38 to enter recesses provided therefor in the block so as to bring italways into correct position. The pattern herein shown is an elks head(59, and inasmuch as thishas a number of points, it is necessary to moldinto the mold a large number of vent or hot-air or gas escapes 70. Thispattern is provided with a projection 71 for forming the gate ormetal-receiving hole in the mold. The remaining steps in making the moldare the same as already described, Cooperating with the part of the moldthus formed is simply av plain block, cope or cover 72 having one side73 flat and the other side 'T-l oblique but flat or plane so as toreceive the oblique under surface of the part of' the mold which carriesthe elks-head impression, a hole 75 being formed through this block 72to cooperate with the metal pouring hole in the other part of the moldso that a number of molds containing such an under cut portion may allbe poured at one time the same as previously described.

From the foregoing description, it will readily be understood that myinvention is capable of a wide range of embodiments, and that by its usepractically any kind of a pattern can be cast, and yet a series of moldsall poured at one time, and applied to any line of casting.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Molding apparatus, comprising a supporting column, a pattern holderremovably mounted on said column provided with means for molding a gatethrough each mold made thereby, a removable frameinclosing said columnand pattern and projecting above the latter to receive the moldmaterlal, said apparatus containing means for forming in said mold ameans of alinement for bringing a series of molds into position Withtheir gates alined for being poured together,

2. Molding apparatus, comprising a supporting column, a pattern holderremovably mounted on said column provided with means for molding a gatethrough each mold made thereby, a removable frame inclosing said columnand pattern and projecting above the latter to receive the moldmaterial,

ai f ame havi g on i s, nner. sid a er t oa i ward y ex end g p je 3.Molding apparatus, comprising a cylind ic l support g c lumn, pa e holdrem a le mo n ed e eo a u ular jflfll e surrounding said column and o desaid fram ha ing a e t a i to g ge Sa d holde and co pem g m ansnormally hol ng he zi ame i ra s d PO t on an i erm tmg t e lder tovlower for eject ng the meld whe m eest mony whereo l-h ve s n d my nameto t is spec fi ti n, in th pre en e of two subsc ibing w tnes es-WILLIAM H- FORD- 'l Vi n s es;

M- J x A D W, EDWARD flppilee of this patent may be obtelned for Jivecents eeph, 'b y addressing the fiqrmnissionex of Patents}

